Electbic signal for vehicles



LMJOS Jan. 18 1927.

R. T. BAIN ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed May 16. 1925 2Sheets-Sheet l www Jan. 18, 1927.,

R. T.4 BAIN ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed Mav 16, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 dil Patented dan. 18, i927.

ROBERT T. BAI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. i

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES. y

Application inea May 16, 1925. seriai No. 30,649.

This invention relates to electric signals of the type displayed on therear of automobiles and other motor vehicles, andV be a signal device ofthe type described with which shall be combined the usual red taillight,thereby, through such combination, effecting economy of cost and space.Another object of the invent-ion is to provide, in a signal device ofthecharacter mentioned, improved electric mechanism foractuating themovable parts of the signal. Another object is to provide' a devicewhereby, during normal running conditions all of the signallingmechanism shall be covered or occluded and only the regular tail-lightshall be displayed. A still further obj ect of the invention is toprovide a simple and compact signal mechanism wherein'the severalmovable parts shall all swing around the axis of the tail-light, andwherein the latter may be utilized in thedisplay of the third letter ofthe stop signal. Y

Other objects and attendant advantages'of the invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the artas the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one practicaland approved embodiment of the invention as ydesigned for use onautomobiles, and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the signal,showing the oscillating shutter guarding the stop signal in closedposition; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical aXialsection through the same taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the offset line 3-3 of Fig. 2 vin aplane at right angles to that of Fig. 2;

Fig. lV is a detail infront elevation, on'

a reduced scale, of the oscillating disc carrying the stop sign anddirection indicating` arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in central vertical section Vof the oscillating signaldisc and its support- Fig. 8 is a diagram of the lampy and magnetcircuits.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the circular bodyxmember of asheet-metal casing ycontaining the operating parts of the'device andformed with an 'outwardly flaring front portion 11 having an annularshoulder 12 to seat a sheet-metal disc 13 and, beyond said shoulder abead 14: adapted to seat the usual retaining ring 15.y The other end ofthe body 10 is closed by a cap 16, to the rear side'of which maybeattached a post 17 by which the 'device is fastened to the car. 7 i

rilhe frontk disc13 is formed with a central horizontal rectangularopening 18, through which the .several signals are, at the proper times,made visible. In thev center of the vopening 18 is located a circular`glass lens 19 marginally held at top and bottom by forwardly offset lips2O and 21 on'the upper and lower margins lof the opening 18, and by thecircular base or attaching flange 22 of an annular hub member 23 behindand concentric with the lens y19; said flange 22 being attached to therear surface of the disc 13 by screws 24. n

Mounted to 'oscillate von the hub 23 is a sheet-metal disc 25, shown inisolated de-v tail in Fig. 4, having cut out therefrom the i letters STand P on opposite sides of the bearing opening ofthe disc and also rightand left direction indicating arrows 2G and 27 respectively. The medianlines of the Stop sign and of the arrows are located sixty degreesapart. yIt will be observed from Fig. 4 that the central bearing open`ing of the' disc 25 is formed with an upper half bearing 2S that fitsthe bearing hub 23, and with a lower half bearing 29 formed on aslightly greater radius, thereby forming between the half 'bearing`29.and the lower half of the hub 23 a narrow semicircular slot fora'purpose hereinafter disclosed. Attached toL the rear side of the discand concentrically 'with thev bearing opening thereof is a ring 32, onthe lower side' of which is a rearwardly extending -connector arm 33supporting at its opposite end a smaller ring 3e'. The ring 33 has abearing on the hub 23, and the ring 34 has la similar bearing ontheinner end portion of a threaded lamp: socket sleeve 35 that passesthrough central openings in the rear cap16 and in a discr 36 lyingaslight distime inwardly QiY and parallel. with the @er 16 secured tothe circular body 10oit thecasing by inwardly bent lugs 37 on the latterand attaching screws 38. Between the discs 16 and 36 is a spacing washer39 encircling and locked on the sleeve and on the outer end of thesleeve 35 is a washer 40 bearing against the outer sideV of the post 17,and a coniiiiing nut 41 centrally aperturedto admit Vthe circuitv wires42 ot ythe tail lamp 43; the shank of the latter being mounted in aninsulationr plug 44 mounted inthe sleeve'85. The lamp 43 lies behindandis coaxial withthe lensV 19 ;V and on therear surface the lens 19. issecured circular red disc 45 of a diameter slightly less than thediameter of the lens l19., sol

that the rays from thek lamp show red through the solid centralportionof the lens,

and show ywhite 'through the vnarrow v an-V nular portion'thereof aroundthe Yred pon tion, thiis 'forming the; letter constituting the thirdletter of the stop signt lviounted on the bearing hub 23y between theiiXed discs 13 andthe oscillatory disc isr the huby oi' a shutter V46,subany.

,jonthe'hubJ 23 directly'b'ehind the ring 32.`

stantially the outlinefo'rm and dimensions oft the opening 1:8. l/Vhenthis shutter is in horizontal,postiomthe two wings thereof are adaptedto occlude the letters'ST and oftthe Stop sign, and,` wlienfoscillatedto averticalposition leave the saidy lettersexposedA throughtherectangular opening 18.

VVOnthe hublot the shutter 46 is an inwardly diiiect'edlug '47 thateXtends'f through the slot formed between the periphery of rtheVbearinghub 23andjthe lower halt. bearing 29 of `the disc inner end saidlug., 47, itirig iet@ ii YiiQiCh 4S @iis- 3) formed" in the innerperiphery lonta ring r49 mounted Mountedfon 'sleeveV 13,5l just in frontof the .iiiis .34. ier/@iii iiiiir iiiie '5.0; and 'these Ytwo rings areconnected atztheir oiiterpeiiphlei'ies by a connector arm 5l termed witha radially extending lug52, as clearly shown in the 'detail' View ig, .y

Reverting. to the actuating device ot the jdiscf25v, sliownldin detailinFig 5v the inner Y bearing ring 34isprovided with adepend-` ing .leg 5,3terminating in a rectangularly Y bent toe 54.

The signal :disc 2,5., and the shutter ,'46 are actuated by yelectromagnets )mounted wholly within the casing; Vand describingV thisac` tuating mechanism, and reti'errini to Figs. 2i

and 8, attachedfto the inner tace of the'- disc 36 as by screws 55 isamagnetsupport- ,y ing frame consisting of an approximately central 4'forwardly l offset U-shaped portion semi-circular Vflat Vbar 56 orn'iedwitha and lwith forwardly extending end por-f i tions 58.4 Vlitountedbetween fand supported ybythe `sidesnottlie central 'offset U-portion"ot the 4 .trame isv an `arc-shapedV electromagna 5,9; and. similarlymouiaedteween ltlieside Vmembers 57 otthe centrally offset U-shapedportion and the end members 58 of theV rameiare arc-shaped magnets 60and 61,respectively.V These magnets are of the solenoid type, lasclearly shown in Fig. 3, and itwill be observed byreterence to F 2 thatthe intermediate magnet 59 is l'oi'- wardly offset within the casingrelatively to the ,end inagnets() and 61., The lower heads of thespools' of the magnets '60,faiid 61 for af purscrewL .to the y i :i Y Athe right hand direction indicating arrow 2o into view tlkigrough,theYopening 18. When tie armaturevtl energized itsaiinatui'e .Siiiiiseihesignal die@ Sixty desiree iii ii @Ganter-@lediwise diieetioii, I'briiisiiie' the left handi direction indicating arrow 2i'k into Viewilir-Qiiehilie @ceiling i8. When Vboth in:agnets Vand 6 1 areidle,gravity` the armature to occupy the intermediate er neutralpositionfsliownin -,in which nOSiiiOii-the stop sign occupies theopiaiiigV 18 y, Y .A

T0 rieveiii `Glifitieii.11.e' Qiili' die@ when in its, normalrositioiijwiih the Stop Sien 0C- cupyingtheopening 18,11 provide asimple mii automatic locir'shown in Figs. 2 and 'ilo thejl'owei' endlofvthe leggo?) is attachedby the screw 62 areaiwardiy extending toot 65,

the free end of which normallyliesbetween Vthe proximate lends of vpairof like levers 66that are pivoted at 67on'the vdisc 36. YThe upper endsotthese levers lie closelyV adjacent to the lower heads 6OVand61. ofthe-spools of the magnets 6() and 61. 'lli/*hen either of these magnetsis energized, the magnetic lines ot 'torce acting through the iron heads60 or 61I attract the upper end ot the lever, thereby swinging the lowerend Yol the lever clear oi the tootG, and thus permitting the ain'iatuiet'offbe drawn into the magnet. Upon`de-energi'zation ofthe 'magnea theleyer drops backr by gravity to its normal positiomahd as the foot re-V,turns to Vcentral .positionV it '1 depresses and drops behindV thelower end ofthe lever and is reloclred by the latter. y 68 designatestheA curved armature 'bar of the central shutter actuating magnet 59,

This armature lat its lower end is connected. Y Y

to the lug 52 which oscillates the ring 49 to which the shutter 46 isconnected by itsv Ylug 47.'l Gravity normally maintains the armaturev 68in the ywithdrawn positionv leo - cal position, exposing the underlyingsignal (either Stop or one ofthe direction indicating arrows) throughthe opening. When the magnet 59 is de-energized, the gravity ont thearmature 68'and the radial attaching lug 52 thereof causes them toreturn to the positions shown in Fig. 3, which corresponds to thehorizontal or closing positionof the shutter.

The description of the operation will best be understood by reference toFig. 8 which is a diagramoi the lamp 'and magnetcircuits, and theswitches employed therein to effect the desired manipulation of theindicator. Referring to this view, 70 designates a battery or othersource of current, from the opposite poles of which circuit lines 71 and72 extend to and through the lamp 43. In the liner 71 may be a cut-outYswitch 7 3, not ordinarily used, vand in the line 72 is a twoway switch'74 that is closed, as shown by its full line position, when the light43 is regularly burning as when driving at night.

Connected to one limb (71) ofthe lamp cir# cuit is a line 75, whichincludes the winding of the magnet 61v and terminates ina contact 76.Connected to the line 75 is a line 77 that includes the winding of themagnet 59 and terminates in branches 78, 79 carrying contacts 80 and 81respectively. ,Connected to the line 7 7 is .a line 82 that vincludesthe winding ofthe inagnetyO and terminates in a contact 83. Pivoted at84 is a ltwo-arm switch, one arm; 85 ,of which may be swung by the handor foot of the operatdr to close a circuit through the Contact 76, 80,and the other arm k86 of which may be similarly swung to close a circuitacross the contacts 81, 823. Connected tothe line wire 7 2 of the lampcircuit is a line 87 that includes a normally open switch 88 closed whenrequired in any approved manner. The other end i of line 87 is connectedat 89 to the line 77 "the center yof lthe two-arm switch 85, 86

with the line 87.

Describing now the modeoit..manipulat-V ing and controlling the`indicator, vand bearing in mind that the shutter 46 is normally keptclosed by the gravity of its actuating armature k68 and that the Stopsign normally occupies the opening 18 behind they closed shutter due tothe gravity of its actuating armatures 63, 64, during daylight drivingthe switch 74 is thrown to the dotted line position shown in lFig. 8,wherein theA lamp circuit is broken. 1When the car is stopped bytheapplication of the foot brake, the switch 88 isclosed. This closes a`circuit through the shutter actuating magnet 59 causing the shutter toopen; the circuit, starting from vthe switch 88, consisting of line 87,battery 70, line 71, line 75 to line 77, line 77 including magnet 59,and line 87 to the'closed switch 88.` At the same time the lamp islighted by a branch or shunt circuit consisting of line 71 beyondline75, lamp 43, line 72,- switch 74 and'line 90 which is con nected to line77 at 89. i

1 When driving at night, the two-way switch74 is closed as shown by itsfull line position, and the light is continuously burning, and theshutter is swung to display the stop signal upon closure ot thepedalactuated switch 88 through the circuit al-A ready described. f y

It the right-hand turn signal isr to be dis played by the arrow 26, theswitch arm 86 is swung'to connect the contacts 81 and 83. rllhisl'closes the circuit through magnet 60 which, starting at contact 83mayv be traced as follows; line 82 through magnet 60 to lineV 77, line77 to line 75, line 75 to-line 71, throii'gh thelatter `and the batteryl70 to line v87, lines 87 and 92to switcharin 86 and through the latterto contact 83. At the same time that the signal disc 25 isthus actuatedto display the arrow 26, a shutteractuating branch circuit is closedthrougl-L the magnet '59,' the same consisting of line 77 in which themagnet 59 is included,

' branch line 79, and switch arm 86.

through a circuit which, starting at contact- 76, comprises line 75through i'uagnet 6l,

line 71 batter 70 'lilies 87 and 92 and switch arm 85. At the Sametimethe shutter is thrown to open position by energizing the magnet 59through a branch circuit consistinfr of line 7 7 including magnet 59 andbranch 78. Y

From the foregoing it will be seen that thethrowing of the two-armsw1tclr85, 86,

Vto'displayeither of the direction indicating arrows 26 and 27,energizes not only the signal discv actuating magnet 6() or 61, but

vsimultaneously `energizes the 'shutter 3 actuat-V ing magnet 69, `andalso energizes the lamp circuit, so that the shutter is opened at thesame time that the intended signal is disdicating switch'. 85, 86 isythrown to either sidezto open the shutter and swing. either au frow-into indicating. position, the lamp will .betemporarily litand thearrow illuniinated, the lampfcircuit being tlien'completed froml switch7a through lines 90, 77 'and branches 78, 79,` instead of: throughlinesfi, 87 and 9.2,- as when driving,` at-lght! While I havehereinsho'wn and 'described one practical and compact form in-Whchhtlieinvention may be embodied; it is` manifest 'that many of thespeciicdetails or structure and yarrangement= may be. considerably 1varied; without departing., from the operative principle of theinvention or sacrificing.- any of its benefits and advantages. Hence, I

` downot limit 'the invention tothe particular fi'orin herein shown anddescribed for purposes4 of-.illustratioin but reserve allV suelivariations, modifications vand mechanical equivalents as fall Within thespirit and pui view of the appended claims. I f Ifcla'im.-'.

yl. In .an electric yvehicle signal of thecharacterf deseribechtliecombination of a casing havinga front Wall formed Witlra transverseopening therein, an electric lamp befV f Vhind said opening, an annularbearing. inem-v ber on saidwall disposed coaxially with said lamp, acolored translucent disc oi' less diaineterfthan the internaldiameteroi1 said bearing` member mounted in said opening. co-

axiallyV with said bearing. mei-nberand: lamp,

a plate mounted to turn on said bearing member and having the letters.and P cut` therein onopposite sides respectively of! said bearingmember,.and means for oscillating` said plate to `move saidlettersintoandout of the. fieldof saidopening..

2, anelectrio vehicle signal .of ,the chai*- 4acter described, thecombination of a. easing having a .front Wall formed with agtransverseopening,` therein, an relectric lamp bel hind said opening, an annularbearing mein- .ber on said Walldisposed coax-iall-y with said lamp, acolored translucent discoflzess diamf eter than the internal diameterQisaid bear-y ]ing member mounted in said openingcoanially with saidbearing member and lamp,

.You

a plate mounted to turn on said bearing member, said platehavingtlie'letters ST Y. and l,Pcut therein in a straightli-ne on oppositesides respectively of said'bearing.nm-iniber and also adirection-indieating arrow' 'Y disposed at an angle to the line ofdirection of said letters, and means for oseillatingsaid plate to moveeither said letters or 'saifdan row int@ and, out ef 'the @eidg @f .Seid@Pm ins ' 3. In an electric vehicle the eldiar- V actei' describedftliecombination ofa casing" havinga frontlvvall formed with trans-V verseopeningtherein, anl'elxeetr'ic lamp be- .ae @sealer .beams meer.disposed `coaxially with said lamp, a` colored translucent disc otlessdiameter than the internal iialnflel Of said ybearing member mounted insaid ,opening coaxially Withy said', bearing member and lamp, a platemounted toiture on said beefing member,y said `plateiria-ville' theletters STV and cut thereiny iny a Straight llieon 4 Inaveliiclefsignal, the coiilibinaition ot 'i a casi-ng having. a 1 frontivall formed with a transverse opening;-` therein, anelectric taillightAlamp]k behind saidI opening, a lens mounted inV said'opeIliingy inifront; of said iamp and liormedV Withl a eentralfcolored por-V vtion'and ii-neolored'I annular portion around said 1 centralV portifomfaiplate behind said openingvhaving.- tlieletters ST and 5I cut' thereinVon 1 opposite sides' respectively .of

said: lens; the annular` uncoloi'ed' i ortion ot' the latter formingthe?"ofi-'the` topsign, and -aesli-utte'r movable 'to cover and uncoversaid opening; l

oil-A speci-fic eingbo dinriei-itiof` tliesuibject 9 matter 'ofsolaiin'- et; wherein? the shutter has substantially the i outline `formv and dimensions ottlie transverse openjingand is pivotV eden a'Xi-scoineidentvvi'ththevaxis ofthe lens. n

of an electro-magnet mounted; in

the casi-ng, 'andactufati'ng connections tliere'-v veliicleisignahtliecombination-foi a casing having? a' front Wall 1 formed with iodo Y 6.In combination With `the 'su-bj ect-matter a `transverse openingtherein, an 'electric tail-llightjlainp tlie saidLL op'snip-"g,Y a lensmounted inV sardi openingfin# front Iot said and formed Y.withV centralfoollored portion and "an funcoloredv u'iin'ui'ai.'

portion `around"saidt 'central ppition, plate 'l and P cut'thereinoiilfoppsite' sidesre-v spectiyely 'of saidilens; the vannii'lar uncolicred" portion ofV tliehl'atter :foriiiing' "tlie' let- 'ieifo@raie-stopfen@ a aiutarci siii- 'airis coincilc'ientjvvith:theaxis?oft-,heV lens fand" movable to cover" and uncover v'said lenoidmagn'etmounted in Y opening, and a vi'nghavi its "armature connected.to' said sli'utterfor swinging Vt'lie llatterg` a cir-cular casiiw",` cV hyafront'wa'll'formed Withan oblong tra sv'lerse" opening; therein,an'electric tail-digli central v "in rear oifsaid op ning, a 'circular'ien ino tedin, sai'df opening' inl i'iont of anid"coa-iL with 'behindVLsaid'openiiifr having' the letters iS, i

said lamp and formed with a central colored portion and an uneoloredannular portion around said central portion, a disc rotatably mounted inrear of said front Wall eoaXially with said lamp and lens, said disehaving the letters ST and P eut therein in a straight line on oppositesides of its axis and a direction-indieating arrow disposed at an angleto the line of direction of said letters. a shutter for opening andclosing said opening rotatably mounted on one side of said front wall,an electro-magnet mounted in said casing and operatively connected tosaid dise, and another electro-magnet mounted in said casing andoperatively connected to said shutter.

9. In a vehicle signal, the combination of a circular casing having afront wall formed with an oblong transverse opening therein,

an electric tail-light lamp centrally in rear of said opening, acircular lens mounted in said opening in front of and coaxial with saidlamp and formed with a central eolored portion and an uncolored annularportion around said central portion, a disc rotatably mounted in rear ofsaid front wallcoaxially with said lamp and lens, said disc having theletters ST and P cut therein in a straight line on opposite sides of itsaxis and a pair of direction-indicating arrows cut thereinr disposed atangles of substantially sixty degrees to each other and the line ofdirection of said letters, a shutter for opening and closing saidopening rotatably mounted between Vsaid front Wall and said disc, a pairof solenoid magnets mounted in said casing with their armaturesconnected to said disc and operating, Whenidle, to maintain said lettersST and P in the iield of said opening and, when energized,torespectively bring said clirectioirindieating arrows into the field ofsaid opening, and another solenoid magnet mounted in said casing andoperative to swing said shutter into and out of` occluding positionrelatively to said opening.

l0. ln a vehicle signal, a sign Stop in which the letter O is the taillight of the vehicle, in combination with means to illumil nate andextinguish the illumination of the letters S, T and P. i

l1. In a vehicle signal, a tail lamp forming the letter O, a pluralityof signals, one of which comprises the letters S, T and P, and means toindividually bring said signals into cooperative relation with saidletter O.

l2. In a combined vehicle tail light and speed indicating signal, a taillight including a port-ion constituting a representationl of the letterO, and means co-operating with the tail light for making certain lettersvisible on opposite sides of the tail light letter for forming a speedsignal.

In. witness whereof I have hereunto set ter for forming a speed signal.

ROBERT T. BAIN. [L s]

